SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (sig)

Consultants & Entrepreneurs

The purpose of the Consultant and Entrepreneur Special Interest Group is to provide an environment within ATD KC where independent consultants, contractors, and small business owners can thrive. Our unique community is made up of talent developers, instructional designers, learning and organizational change consultants, coaches, learning executives, and business owners. We exist to serve each other and learn from each other, develop referral networks, and provide for peer support and mentoring. The SIG strives to be a resource to all ATDKC members who are considering starting their own business or practice or who are already leading and developing businesses within a more traditional corporate structure. 

Shawn Foley

Consultant & Entrepreneur SIG Leader

Dr. Foley is a Performance Strategist at Foleyworks, which he started to help individuals work better together so they can create the change they want to see in the world. This includes offering services that boost organizations to achieve their full potential. His work brings essential elements and methods to educate, develop, and nurture people and teams.

Foleyworks’ services focus on the support mechanisms for success including metrics and measurement, education solutions and services, change management, organization development, the creation of governance models, program analysis and evaluation, and the isolation of initiative impact and influence.

Shawn holds a Doctor of Education in instructional Systems and Behavior Change from PA State University, an MS in Instructional Technology, and a BS in Education from Bloomsburg University. He also has a certification in Lean project management methodology and has been an IASSC Certified Black Belt.

Lisa Chandler

Consultant & Entrepreneur SIG Co-Leader

Terry Turner

Consultant & Entrepreneur SIG Co-Leader

Leadership Development

The ATDKC Leadership Special Interest Group is an engaged group of talent development professionals who are passionate about building leadership at all levels. Whether you're designing leadership programs, coaching emerging leaders, or shaping organizational strategy, this SIG is your space to connect, learn, and grow.

Amy Swaminathan

Leadership SIG Leader

Amy Swaminathan, CPTD® loves helping others reach their full potential. She’s a champion for driving your own career through ongoing development, learning from others, and using the benefits an ATD membership provides.

Amy has over two decades of learning and organizational development experience that includes leadership and employee experience design, facilitation, coaching, instructional design, and organizational effectiveness consulting. She earned the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) credential in 2018 and continues to learn to earn recertification requirements to impact personal, team, and organization strategies.

She finds great joy in traveling with her husband and son, watching KC Chiefs football, and helping others advocate for their aging parents.

Learning Technologies

This Learning Technologies Special Interest Group brings together professionals passionate about leveraging technology to enhance learning. Topics include eLearning, learning management systems (LMS), virtual training tools, and emerging trends like AI in learning.

Lauren Hays, PhD

Learning Technologies

SIG Co-Leader

Lauren Hays, PhD, is an associate professor of instructional technology at the University of Central Missouri, where she coordinates the educational technology programs, including the Graduate Certificate in Corporate Training. She is passionate about using technology effectively and aligning its use with the science of learning.

Jolene Burns

Learning Technologies

SIG Co-Leader

Jolene Burns is a Senior Manager of Enterprise Training who leads strategic learning initiatives that drive technology adoption and empower employees to succeed. She specializes in transforming complex concepts into engaging, accessible training experiences for diverse audiences.

A collaborative and results-driven leader, Jolene is known for developing high-performing teams, advancing content strategy, and delivering scalable learning solutions aligned to business goals. She is also a founding member and leader of Women in Technology (WiT) employee resource groups, where she champions inclusion and the growth of women in tech.

Outside of work, Jolene enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, and creating pottery in her backyard studio.

Talent Strategies

Focused on aligning people strategies with business goals, the Talent Strategies Special Interest Group explores workforce planning, talent acquisition, onboarding, employee engagement, and organizational development to drive performance and growth.

Ann Brown

Talent Strategies

SIG Leader

Kelly Zamboni

Director, Special Interest Groups

Mailing Address:

705 B SE Melody Lane, #311
Lee's Summit, MO 64063

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (sig)

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